Sanjay Manjrekar believes that the Indian bowling attack relies on Jasprit Bumrah more than needed, and that Siraj failed to provide enough support to Bumrah in Adelaide Test
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticised India’s bowling lineup for their poor performance in the second Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where India faced a 10-wicket loss.
Sanjay Manjrekar believes that the Indian bowling attack relies on Jasprit Bumrah more than needed. Sanjay also pointed out that Mohammed Siraj failed to provide enough support to Bumrah, while pacers like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana struggled to make any impact whatsoever.
Manjrekar was also impressed how Australian openers Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne mad use of of the opportunity after Bumrah departed. The stunning century by Travis Head further put light on India’s bowling lineup.
“The Indian bowling attack suddenly looked average. There was Bumrah, a bit of Siraj and Harshit Rana realised that every day is not going to be like the Perth Test match. Credit to young Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne who grafted the innings. But there was not relentless quality bowling at those guys and that’s why maybe India wasn’t able to cash in,” Manjrekar said.
“In Adelaide, in both innings, there was more of a reality check for the No.3 and No.4 of what they have to face in foreign conditions when the bowlers are holding their swing. There is of course a lack of experience with the kind of bowling attack that India have. There is Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj has been there before but he is not quite Mohammed Shami. Just put Shami in that equation in that evening session (Day 1 Adelaide) and the story would have been different,” he concluded.
